A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mashiko vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mashiko or Whitsundays?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mashiko or Whitsundays, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Mashiko or Whitsundays?

Mashiko

Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mashiko and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Mashiko much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mashiko is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mashiko would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mashiko and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Mashiko.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mashiko Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Mashiko or Whitsundays?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Mashiko has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Mashiko or Whitsundays in the Summer?

Both Whitsundays and Mashiko are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Mashiko in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Mashiko is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mashiko in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Mashiko usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Mashiko gets 130 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Mashiko. In July, Mashiko usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Mashiko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mashiko or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

Both Whitsundays and Mashiko during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Mashiko for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In October, Mashiko is generally cooler than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Mashiko average around 16°C (60°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Mashiko often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Mashiko gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.

Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mashiko. Mashiko usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Whitsundaysin April. Mashiko gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mashiko or Whitsundays in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mashiko and Whitsundays. The winter months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Mashiko can be very cold. Mashiko is much colder than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Mashiko averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Mashiko usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Mashiko gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mashiko usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin July. Mashiko gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mashiko or Whitsundays in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Mashiko as well as Whitsundays. The small town charm are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year.

In the spring, Mashiko is much colder than Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mashiko in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the spring, Mashiko often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Mashiko gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.

Mashiko receives a lot of rain in the spring. Mashiko usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Mashiko gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Mashiko